The Rena's second lifeboat shifted to its new home at the Bay Of Plenty Polytechnic this week where it will be used as a teaching aid for maritime students.

The red lifeboat from the ship that grounded on the Astrolabe Reef in 2011 is currently sitting in the back paddock at the polytechnic where it will be readied for use by students this coming week.

The Rena life boat berthed at Tauranga Bridge Marina.

BOP Polytechnic maritime team group leader Tony Martin says the lifeboat will provide a hands-on experience for maritime students who would otherwise be restricted to learning about lifeboats from DVDs.

'There's a lot of equipment that we can show them we have a lot of DVDs on how to launch, and how to retrieve, but now students can actually get inside one instead of viewing it on screen.”

The lifeboat will be used by students taking the basic international seafaring requirement, the Standards of Training Certificate and Watchkeeping for Seafarers course, and basically all the other maritime courses, says Tony.

It will be a static display only, but it may one day return to the water.

'There's a few compliance issues with that. We will work through those but it all takes time. It's a very long term plan.”

Meanwhile, the first Rena lifeboat to find a new home is waiting for a suitable trailer. The lifeboat was bought as a Child Cancer Foundation fund raiser by Palm Beach Plaza at Papamoa to be used in the community.

Plaza marketing manager Warwick Clark says the lifeboat's three tonne weight, and 2.9 metre width have presented challenges in finding a suitable trailer.

'That's been the delay,” says Warwick.

'It's also wider than a regular trailer and we have got to have a special license.”

The intention is to mount the lifeboat on the trailer with steps providing access, so it can be driven about to community events.

It is expected to be on the road next month.